It was an agreement born from a fear of failure, delivered by the smoothness of French diplomacy. Six years earlier, countries had bitterly walked away from global climate talks in Copenhagen without a deal. The decision to reassemble in Paris to try again at getting almost 200 countries to sign a pact on cutting carbon emissions was a gamble: another collapse could end the world’s ability to forge a common approach to dealing with climate change. And no political leader wanted his reputation stained by a repeat of the debacle in Copenhagen. So there was no detail of hospitality too small for the French hosts this time, no country negotiator who would go unflattered by Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister who presided over the conference. Fabius had been the youngest French prime minister in history in the 1980s; now he was an elder statesman looking to carve a bigger place in it. Over two weeks under the global spotlight, his sonorous voice and relentless optimism … [Read more...] about How the world learned its lesson and got a climate deal
Trade vs aid
PARALLEL TRADE OF PATENTED PHARMACEUTICALS: A DISCUSSION FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRY PERSPECTIVE
PARALLEL TRADE OF PATENTED PHARMACEUTICALS: A DISCUSSION FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRY PERSPECTIVE Dr. Nguyen Nhu Quynh Deputy Chief Inspector Ministry of Science and Technology Abstract: Although the legitimacy of parallel trade was established in the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement 1994[1] (TRIPS Agreement) and re-affirmed in the Doha Declaration on TRIPS Agreement and Public Health 2001 (Doha Declaration)[2], parallel trade in patented pharmaceuticals has so far been one of the most heatedly debated topics. Multi-national pharmaceutical companies complain that parallel trade of patented pharmaceuticals denies them adequate protection of their patent rights and prevents them from recouping the costs of pharmaceutical development including research and development (R&D), regulatory approval and amortization of the cost of unsuccessful drug development. In contrast, the developing (and least developed) countries, suffering from the … [Read more...] about PARALLEL TRADE OF PATENTED PHARMACEUTICALS: A DISCUSSION FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRY PERSPECTIVE
The book “Achievements in Protecting and Promoting Human Rights in Vietnam”
Preface Chapter I: Vietnam's Viewpoints and Policies on Human Rights Chapter II: Vietnam's Achievements in the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights I. Civil and Political Rights 1. Rights to Vote and Stand for Election, and to Participate in the Administration of the State and Management of the Society 2. Freedoms of Speech and the Press, and the Right to Information 3. Freedom of Association and Assembly 4. Freedom of Religion and Belief 5. Ensuring Equal Rights among Ethnic Groups 6. Ensuring the Rights to Life, Physical Inviolability and Dignity 7. Freedom of Movement and Residence II. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1. Rights to Economic Development and Improvement of the Material Life 2. Social Rights 3. Right to Healthcare III. Rights of Women, Children, Family, Elderly and Disabled People. 1. Women's Rights and Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 2. The Rights of the Child 3. Rights of Disabled People and Agent … [Read more...] about The book “Achievements in Protecting and Promoting Human Rights in Vietnam”
Cheating death and saving a nation
by Lady Borton This spring Viet Nam commemorates the hundredth anniversary of Ho Chi Minh's departure from Sai Gon on his thirty-year journey. Others of President Ho's generation also left home to seek a way to liberate their country. Indeed, Ho Chi Minh turned down a chance to join the several hundred young revolutionaries who went to study in Japan as part of Phan Boi Chau's Dong Du Movement. Nevertheless, President Ho is unique in Vietnamese history and perhaps in world history for his journey's duration (thirty years) and breadth (visits to several dozen countries on four continents). His journey's depth includes extended time in six countries (the United States, Great Britain, France, the former Soviet Union, China and the British colony of Hong Kong, and Siam/Thailand). During those stays, he made the effort necessary to acquire fluency in five foreign languages (English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Thai). President Ho's journey also included a court-room drama and escape … [Read more...] about Cheating death and saving a nation
Euro has new politburo but no solution yet
PARIS - Europe has a new informal leadership directorate intent on finding a solution to the euro zone's debt crisis, but it has yet to prove its ability to come up with a lasting formula. Forged in the fire of a bond market inferno, the shadowy so-called Frankfurt Group has grabbed the helm of the 17-nation currency area in a few short weeks. The inner circle comprises the leaders of Germany and France, the presidents of the executive European Commission and of the European Council of EU leaders, the heads of the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the chairman of euro zone finance ministers, and the European Commissioner for economic and financial affairs. Europe's new politburo met four times on the sidelines of last week's Group of 20 summit in Cannes, issuing an ultimatum to Greece that it would not get a cent more aid until it met its European commitments, and arm-twisting Italy to carry out long delayed economic reforms and let the IMF monitor … [Read more...] about Euro has new politburo but no solution yet